Star Trek: Picard Review: Absolute Candor (Season 1 Episode 4)

Star Trek: Picard, Season 1 Episode 4, “Absolute Candor,” is yet another home run in the show’s freshman season. Written by Michael Chabon, and directed by Star Trek alum Jonathan Frakes, this episode is filled to the brim with emotion, adventure, and one of the most exhilarating reveals in recent memory. 

I genuinely cannot remember the last time an episode of television made me this happy. A mix of flashback history and current narrative necessity build “Absolute Candor” up slowly and with great care into the final ten minutes which leaves your mind racing and your heart pounding as Picard and company narrowly escape destruction and the show welcomes a familiar face. 

On the Borg Cube, Narek is the most interesting that he’s been thus far in the series, and yet I still want to punch him in the teeth. Soji is beginning to show some distrust in him, for which I am truly grateful. 

Soji: What are you doing Narek?

Narek: Same thing you’re doing, feeding an insatiable curiosity.

Soji is watching recordings of Rhamda, playing space tarot, and trying to make sense of everything. I love the overlay of Rhamda’s face over Soji’s as she watches the holo program and the way it seems to indicate that Soji is deeply entrenched in the mythology of Romulan culture. 

Narek continues to dodge Soji’s questions with flirtations and romantic platitudes and while it’s nice to see this light moment between the two of them where Soji is genuinely having a good time, his insidiousness creeps back in just moments later.

I am deeply invested in Soji figuring out the mystery of Rhamda and her ship, and why everything went haywire when those Romulans were assimilated. Meanwhile, I keep wishing for Narek to just go away. While he and Rizzo have inappropriately interesting chemistry, and he’s clearly the lesser evil of the two, I’m actually quite a bit more interested in her plan to interrogate Soji over his. 

Narek is every man who thinks he’s entitled to a woman’s time, energy, and personal life. He believes that if he’s just given enough time he can get everything he wants from Soji, which simply makes my skin crawl. Rizzo is, at the very least, straight forward with her every intention. She’s horrific, violent, and sadistic, but with her, what you see is what you get. Which I can respect, far more than I can Narek’s unsettling nice-guy routine. 

I’m honestly inclined to even agree with Rizzo as it doesn’t seem like Narek is getting anywhere but into Soji’s bed with his approach. And even now he’s lost that access. I hope that Picard and company show up to rescue Soji before Rizzo gets her hands on her, but I definitely think that her approach will be more effective than the games Narek is playing. 

Over on La Sirena Picard has a pit stop to make before the crew continues their journey to Freecloud. They need protection and the final member of their party.  

The episode opens with a beautiful flashback to the planet Vashti, just before the destruction of Mars, and the end of Picard’s career in Starfleet.

“Absolute Candor” makes perfect use of this flashback, as every episode of Star Trek: Picard has done so far, as it endears us to the relationship between Elnor and Picard while also revealing key information about the world as a whole.   

In this flashback, we see a Picard who is beloved by these people and welcomed everywhere he goes. This is a man who loves the people he’s helping, and one who is loved by them in return. When he arrives again to ask for the help of the Qowat Milat (a group of Romulan warrior women, whom I’m immediately obsessed with) he’s not quite so welcome as the last time he was seen on Vashti. 

Elnor feels as though he were abandoned by Picard after the destruction of Mars, as do many of the Romulans on Vashti. 

Zani: Because you could not save everyone, you chose to save no one.

Picard: I allowed the perfect to become the enemy of the good.

It’s actually kind of satisfying to see Picard understand that he made massive mistakes in his past when he decided to take himself out of the fight. In losing the support of Starfleet, Picard also gave up on all of the people he personally swore to protect. He’s trying to make up for that now, and it’s a decision he clearly regrets. But it’s refreshing to see him own that mistake and take steps towards actively doing better now. 

Picard isn’t perfect, and we shouldn’t expect him to be, he’s a human who’s learning and growing from his past actions and that’s just what we should be asking of every person. 

Picard: The federation has failed you all, I failed you all. I broke faith with you, and the result was terrible. Pain, and loss for you all. And I am sorry. 

Elnor rejects Picard’s initial request in his personal anger with Picard’s abandonment of him, (and all Romulans aside from Zhaban and Laris) fourteen years ago. But the connection that they share is clearly stronger than that hurt, and Elnor shows up to protect Picard when push comes to shove. 

This episode does a great job of getting the audience invested in this relationship in such a short space of time. 

In the end, Elnor decides to come along and gives both his devotion and respect to Picard. I can’t wait to see how this soft “sister boy” fits into the team and how he brings yet another element of filling out the 20-year-gap history to the show. 

As the La Sirena prepares to get the hell out of dodge they come under heavy fire from both the planetary defense system and an old Klingon Bird of Prey looking for trouble. Who should come to their rescue, but a mysterious figure in a tiny beat-up ship. 

For anyone who was paying attention during the opening credits of “Absolute Candor,” our mystery pilot should come as no surprise. However, whether you know who is inside the ship or you don’t the anticipation of learning the identity of their hero builds tremendously all the same. 

As her ship is destroyed, Raffi beams Seven of Nine aboard the La Sirena in the final moments of the episode to take our breath away and have us begging for the next episode. 

Picard: Seven of Nine?

Seven: You owe me a ship, Picard. 

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect reveal of Seven, and I’m so eager to learn about what she’s been up to since we last saw her on Star Trek: Voyager. With the Borg/xB storyline playing such a huge role on Star Trek: Picard Seven is the perfect character to give us a new perspective on how these events are unfolding. 

Star Trek: Picard is expertly blending the roots of its past with the possibilities of its future by bringing in characters like Seven, Data, Riker, and Troi while introducing us to new characters who are just as captivating as the ones we already love. 

Delivering consistently entertaining episodes, Star Trek: Picard is a near-perfect expansion of this universe, and I for one can’t wait to see what happens next. 

Starfleet Communique: 

• I’m calling it, Jurios (Jurati and Rios) are going to be a thing. They’re going to kiss, I am willing it into existence. That story about her dad and her wholesome annoying energy are just endearing her to him more and more. 
• Picard has a holo-program of Chateau Picard, I’m soft about it. 
• The Qowat Milat is the most feared enemy of the Tal Shiar, and I am, naturally, obsessed with them. How did this order of women come into being? How do their teachings differ so much from standard Romulan society? Where do I sign up to love and appreciate them forever?
• I would die for Zani. 
• Other Romulans call Elnor “sister boy” like it’s an insult, but truly how could it be anything but a compliment, those women are incredible. 
• This episode is incredible but I do miss Laris. I hope she and Zhaban are having a nice, peaceful time at Chateau Picard. 
• Rizzo is the Cersei Lannister of Star Trek: Picard and I don’t know how I feel about that. 
• We get two new holograms on this episode, the hospitality program (a Canadian?) and Emmet (a chaotic pilot/helmsman who exclusively speaks Spanish and looks hungover). I love every one of them and Santiago Cabrera is a gift. 
• I’ve already pledged my allegiance to Jurati/Rios, but I’m not above shipping Rios with Seven. I’m also happy if Star Trek: Picard gives me my rights by declaring Seven is a lesbian and just has these two snark at the world together. I’m not picky. 
• We get to see Riker and Troi so soon, and I guarantee I will cry about it! What are you looking forward to as we approach the halfway mark of Star Trek: Picard Season 1? 

What did you think of this episode of Star Trek: Picard? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Star Trek: Picard airs Thursdays on CBS All Access.

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